A Dream Day
Feb 17th, 2008 by Ollie Lind
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Have you ever had that perfect day? A day when it all flowed, people were all good natured, everything you touched just turned to gold? I had one of those days on Saturday.
Weekends are normally very busy and this weekend was no different. Early Saturday morning I have a martial arts class which is both a challenge and exhilarating. Before the class I had occasion to speak with a few of the students. Normally some of them ask me questions about some of the subjects we have covered in the workshops I have done.
This time it was different. I was the one who asked the questions. I was simply curious about various of the guys. I listened carefully and displayed genuine concern. They just opened up and I learnt a great deal about them. The spirit of friendship that blossomed felt great.
After martial arts I went to the gym and squash centre. I organise the competition teams and we are a couple of weeks away from the Autumn competition. Inevitably there is a little tension before the teams are graded and the competition gets under way.
Sometimes I have to place people in teams that are appropriate to the player’s ability. Some individuals have an unrealistic idea of their skill and are unhappy with their grading. I was facing such a situation on this day and I simply asked the person what he really wanted. I made it all about him.
To my surprise he indicated that he would fall in with whatever was best for the group. I responded warmly and the issue was resolved. There was another potentially difficult situation when a player who had been absent for quite a while turned up. I had paid his fees in the last season and I’d had trouble getting the money from him.
I saw him and came off the court. The first thing I did was congratulate him on the recent birth of his daughter. I then went back on the court to finish my game. He came onto the court and asked me to accept the money he owed me.
Later that evening I had some quiet time and I looked back over what had been a very pleasant day. I realized that the difference was that I had focussed my attention in every situation on the welfare of the other person. The response from everyone was amazing.
I keep saying to people “It’s all about the other person,” and I try to adopt that viewpoint. Like us all, I am a work in progress, but when I get it right, the results are spectacular.
I just wanted to share the day with you. Live can be a pleasant activity if you focus on what you can do for others.
Live Well
Ollie Lind